Flat-hunting

This is quite an exciting (terrifying) time for me, all things considered. I have (unofficially) completed my university education, pending graduation in July. I am currently seeking full-time work in the publishing industry, preferably London-based, preferably an Agent's Assistant position. And if all that wasn't enough, my boyfriend and I are planning on moving in together.

I'm not sure when we first discussed it, but it's something that's become more and more likely as the months have gone on. It'll be a big change - while I was at university in Norwich, he has been doing his final year of study in Bath. And right after our relationship started a couple of years ago, he moved to London on a placement year. Closer than Bath, but a two-hour train ride between us still made things tough...

But we've talked about it a lot. And we've recently been looking at flats, which makes the whole thing all the more real/exciting/scary. We might have found the one we want, though, after all of this. Well, actually we found two, but one of them was just... in the wrong place. We'll see. As it is, of course, my boyfriend will be living there on his own for a while, because I'm unemployed and don't want him paying for me to live there.

But it's exciting to know that even if my job-hunt has ground to an unsuccessful halt because I've not found any jobs to apply for in the last couple of weeks, at least my search for somewhere else to live is going better. Who knows: maybe this means things will start turning around for me.

I'm feeling good. I'm feeling like pretty soon something will turn up, job-wise, and I'll be able start on this whole new chapter in my life.

Fingers crossed.

Off-topic

This post has nothing to do with books, publishing, or anything else literature-related. Just sayin'.

...And on with the show.

I have a good friend, who I've known since secondary school, who told me at the start of the year that this would be the year she would reinvent herself. I asked her what she meant, and she said that she needed a new look. Now, at the time I was slightly puzzled by this. I didn't see anything wrong with her old look. But recently, I'm starting to get it.

You know that feeling when you get up in the morning and you feel like you've got nothing to wear? Well that's how I'm feeling at the minute. Except it's pretty much every day that I'll be feeling like this. I'm not a vain person, really. I don't spend hours planning my outfits and then hours getting ready. But I like to look good, you know?

I should mention that I'm also not, uh, the most fashion-savvy person in the world. My sister, well, I think she got the fashion genes. Or jeans, if you will. (Haha, Emily you're so funny. Yeah, I know. Thanks guys!)

ANYWAY. Essentially I'm at a stage in my life where I feel like I want to give my look a major overlook. By which I mean my wardrobe, not the rest of me. I'm just coming to the end of university, and since I've been here my wardrobe has consisted mainly of hoodies and the thickest jumpers I can find. Jeans that may or may not fit properly. And, er, that's about it. I don't know how to layer my clothes so that they look good, and I don't know how to accessorise properly. I own like, two belts (er, and a couple that don't fit me, and should probably be thrown away..!). I don't have any 'fashion jewellery'. My wardrobe is, in a word, boring.

Now, bearing in mind that I don't have much money at the minute, what do you think would be a good starting point with my wardrobe? I'm thinking maybe some cute accessories. Some jewellery, maybe. Long necklaces and bracelets, I always think they look cute - on other people, but not me, for some reason. I dunno. I should also probably go through and throw out anything that doesn't fit and/or I haven't worn for over a year...

And if you guys have any tips... I'd be thrilled. This fashion-challenged chica needs all the help she can get!

The (possibly never-ending) Job-hunt

Phew. I was feeling too grumpy to do a blog post today, but I looked at some photos of really adorable kittens and that cheered me up. No, really. Who can stay miserable when faced with the super-adorableness of kittens?

Anyway. Today I was going to tell you about my job-hunting process. Perhaps you'll be interested. And if you're not, well, tough. It's my blog, and this whole job-hunt thing is what's taking up roughly 90% of my thoughts at the minute...

I'm currently in the last couple of weeks as an undergraduate student at university. I'm in my final year, and am just finishing off the last couple of pieces of coursework. When term ends on 8th April, that's it, I'm finished. Lots of my friends have exams after the Easter break, but my course wasn't structured that way so I'll be all finished and ready to graduate in July (fingers crossed). I'm hoping to come out with a 2:1 at the end, but one of my classes this term is really tough so I'm not sure how I'll do in that one. Hopefully my marks over the rest of the year will make up for it, and hopefully I won't have any complete disasters.

Being so close to finishing my degree is an exciting time, but also completely terrifying. I'm looking for a job in publishing - ideally as an agent's assistant - but there aren't that many jobs out there. By which I mean I can't afford to be too picky. I spent last summer doing work placements in the industry - a six week placement at a literary agency in London, and four weeks at an Oxford-based publishing company. Before that I'd spent a week at another literary agency, a placement that I got through the careers centre at university.

So I feel like I've got a decent knowledge of the industry. This summer I've lined up a bunch of placements between April and July. If I'm honest, I can't really afford to do them all. They're unpaid, for starters, but also there's only so much you can learn in a two or three week placement. I'm very keen to find something permanent, and as it is I'm waiting to hear back from a number of places - a couple of literary agencies, and then some entry-level positions at some publishing houses.

I find it's the waiting that's harder than anything. Waiting to hear back from employers, and waiting for jobs to come up. Publishing isn't a big industry, and there are lots of people trying to make their way in it. I feel like I've got a good C.V (or resume, if you're American...), and I feel pretty optimistic about my chances on a couple of these applications. But the lack of certainty is doing my head in, and I'm going round and round in little circles of worry that would put my worrier-housemate to shame.

Hopefully in the coming weeks I'll have some better news to share with you as my job-hunt continues. Of course, it'll probably be much more exciting for me than it will be for you, but I always like reading about other people's success stories. Hopefully soon I'll have one of my own. Hopefully.